Secretary of Defense Institutes Temporary Halting of Air Force Organizational Redesign Strategies
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a halt to all planning activities associated with the Air Force's "Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition" initiative. This decision leaves the service's sweeping plan to transform in a state of limbo.
Perhaps the most notable area affected by this pause is the Integrated Capabilities Command, a new organization tasked with overseeing the planning and requirements process for the development of future systems within the Air Force.
A department spokesperson confirmed the directive to Air & Space Forces Magazine. They stated, "On Feb. 6, the Secretary of Defense directed the Department of the Air Force to pause all planning actions connected to its Re-Optimizing for Great Power Competition efforts." The planning pause will remain in effect until a Senate-confirmed Secretary and Undersecretary of the Air Force are in place and have the opportunity to review the initiatives. The Department of the Air Force welcomes the opportunity for the incoming civic leadership to assess all ongoing actions and ensure they comply with DOD directives.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reports that there was no memo mandating the pause.
The order raises questions about the fate of the 24 "key decisions" the Department of the Air Force announced in February 2024. At the time, then-Secretary Frank Kendall said senior leadership decided the department wasn't optimally structured for "Great Power Competition," a term coined during President Donald Trump's first administration to describe how the Pentagon would deter and counter China.
To "re-optimize," the Air Force embarked on a massive re-organization effort. The 24 key decisions encompassed a range of initiatives, from the creation of Integrated Capabilities Command for the Air Force and Space Futures Command for the Space Force to a renewed focus on large-scale exercises, slated to begin with a major one in the Pacific in summer 2025.
A defense official familiar with the pause order told Air & Space Forces Magazine that "readiness and lethality are at the core of both the Department of the Air Force's efforts to realign to the threat environment and the new administration's priorities." The official added that everyone in the Department of the Air Force is eager and welcoming of the incoming civilian leadership team's review of ongoing actions and the progress made so far.
Certain key decisions have already been set in motion, such as the establishment of a Warrant Officer Training School by the Air Force and the redesign of the Space Force's career paths, which now include an Officer Training Course teaching new officers the foundational knowledge of space, intelligence, and cyber operations instead of requiring them to specialize early on.
While planning has been paused, activities already underway do not need to be reversed, allowing programs like these to continue. Nevertheless, the future of many initiatives is unclear, such as:
- The fate of Integrated Capabilities Command
- The standing up of Space Futures Command
- The re-organization of Air Force Materiel Command
- The transformation of Air Education and Training Command into Airman Development Command
- The elevation of Air Forces Cyber as a service component commander
It is uncertain how quickly these issues will be resolved, but the timeline may span several months until the new leadership team of the Department of the Air Force is in place and able to address these questions. As of Feb. 10, President Donald Trump had nominated Troy E. Meink for Air Force Secretary and Matthew Lohmeier for Undersecretary. However, they must be confirmed by the Senate, and no hearings have been scheduled yet.
Pentagon Editor Chris Gordon contributed to this report.
- The Defense Secretary's order has caused uncertainty regarding the future of initiatives such as the Integrated Capabilities Command, the standing up of Space Futures Command, the re-organization of Air Force Materiel Command, the transformation of Air Education and Training Command, and the elevation of Air Forces Cyber.
- The planning pause in the Air Force's "Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition" initiative will persist until a Senate-confirmed Secretary and Undersecretary of the Air Force are positioned to review the initiatives.
- The Department of the Air Force has stated its readiness for the incoming civilian leadership to assess all ongoing actions and ensure compliance with DOD directives.
- The order raises questions about the future of the 24 "key decisions" announced by the Department of the Air Force in February 2024, which included the creation of Integrated Capabilities Command and the establishment of Space Futures Command, among other initiatives.
- Although planning has been put on hold, programs already in progress, like the creation of a Warrant Officer Training School by the Air Force and the redesign of the Space Force's career paths, are allowed to continue.
